Heart of Texas Unemployment Rate Drops to 3.4% in December
Waco, Texas — In December, the unemployment rate in the Heart of Texas region fell to 3.4%, representing 6,243 unemployed residents, a decrease from 3.9% in November. 956 continued unemployment claims were reported. During the month, the Waco Metropolitan Area saw a slight decline in job numbers, down by 200, resulting in a total of 140,200 jobs in the region.
County-specific unemployment rates within the region are as follows:
- Bosque County: 3.2%
- McLennan County: 3.3%
- Falls County: 3.5%
- Hill County: 3.5%
- Limestone County: 4.0%
- Freestone County: 4.6%
Year in Review: 2024 Labor Market Recap:
The Heart of Texas region added 3,900 jobs in 2024, growing from 136,300 in January to 140,200 in December. Over the same period, the unemployment rate dropped from 4.1% to 3.4%, reflecting steady progress throughout the year, as reported by TWC’s TexasLMI.com.
The Texas state unemployment rate stood at 3.7%, while the national rate was slightly higher at 3.8%, as reported by the latest TexasLMI.com data.
For detailed information on this month’s labor market data, view our Regional Labor Market Information web page. For real-time labor market data, regional employment trends, wage/salary insights and other data, check out our new Heart of Texas Labor Market Insights labor market data visualization tool.
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Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas provides comprehensive services for businesses and job seekers in its six-county service area, which includes Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone, and McLennan counties. Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas is one of 28 local workforce development boards under the direction of and funded by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
Note: All unemployment rates listed are not seasonally adjusted. All data reported based on latest TexasLMI.com Labor Market data release as of Nov. 15, 2024.